Please note that foreigners with a criminal past are not eligible to apply for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment!
Are you thinking about applying for a Caribbean citizenship by investment but you cannot figure out the ultimate cost? InternationalWealth team will be happy to help you with this task! If any questions remain after you have read the text below, please apply for a free personal consultation on acquiring a Caribbean passport!
The citizenship-by-investment program administered by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda remains one of the most popular such programs in the Caribbean basin. Only the passport of St Kitts and Nevis gives visa-free access to a larger number of countries than the Antiguan passport does.
Even though the Antiguan citizenship-by-investment program has transparent requirements, the total cost of the Antiguan passports is comprised of several payments. It is not surprising, therefore, that some potential investors in Caribbean citizenship are a little confused when trying to understand how much they will have to pay for the passport in total. Below we discuss the types of mandatory payments to be made when applying for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment and add them up. We hope that you will find our calculus useful.
A large family will find the Antiguan offer more lucrative than the offers made by other countries running citizenship-by-investment programs.
How much does the Antiguan passport cost?
The Antiguan Government offers several investment options to foreign nationals seeking citizenship of the country. The least expensive option is to make a non-returnable donation to the state fund. The total price consists of four components plus the immigration agent’s fee:
- Donation – from US$ 100,000 (applicable to families of up to four members; a donation of US$ 130,000 is required if the number of family members is five or more);
- Application processing fee — from US$ 30,000 (applicable to families of up to four members; another US$ 15,000 is due for each extra family member);
- Due Diligence fee – from US$ 7,500 (the ultimate sum will depend on the number of applicant family members);
- Additional expenditures: Passport issuance fee of US$ 300 per passport, courier services, bank commissions;
- Immigration agent’s fee: The fee will depend on the agency that you hire. In any case, you have to hire an immigration agent as filing applications for citizenship directly to the authorities of Antigua and Barbuda is prohibited by law.
Let us consider the example of a single person applying for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment. The total price for him/ her will be comprised of the following expenditures:
- Donation — US$ 100,000
- Application processing fee — US$ 30,000
- Due Diligence fee — US$ 7,500
- Passport issuance fee — US$ 300
- Total — US$ 137,800
When filing the application for citizenship to the Antiguan CIU, the candidate has to pay the Due Diligence fee in full plus 10% of the application processing fee plus the immigration agent’s fee (US$ 10,500 in total plus the agent’s fee). The rest of the sum is payable only if the application for citizenship is approved by the Antiguan authorities.
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Let us now consider the example of a family of four (husband, wife, and two children below the age of 11) applying for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment. The calculus for them will look as follows:
- Donation — US$ 100,000
- Application processing fee — US$ 30,000
- Due Diligence fee — US$ 15,000
- Passport issuance fee — US$ 1,200
- Total — US$ 146,200
When filing the application for citizenship to the Antiguan CIU, the candidate has to pay the Due Diligence fee in full plus 10% of the application processing fee plus the immigration agent’s fee (US$ 18,000 in total plus the agent’s fee). The rest of the sum is payable only if the application for citizenship is approved by the Antiguan authorities.
The passports of Antigua for a donation to the university fund: a lucrative offer for a family of 6+ members
This path to the Antiguan citizenship should be especially attractive for large families seeking foreign citizenship. The required amount of donation to the University of West Indies Fund is US$ 150,000. If the number of family members exceeds six, another US$ 15,000 is due for each extra family member. Therefore, this option turns out less expensive than making a donation to the state fund.
A donation to the UWI Fund is an attractive opportunity for a large family seeking Antiguan citizenship.
Let us consider the example of a family of six (husband, wife, two children below 12 and two more children between 12 and 17) applying for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment. The calculus for them will look as follows:
- Donation — US$ 150,000 (application processing fee is included in this sum)
- Due Diligence fee — US$ 27,000
- Passport issuance fee — US$ 1,800
- Total: US$ 178,800
If a donation to the UWI Fund is made, one family member becomes eligible for one tuition-free year at the University.
When filing the application for citizenship to the Antiguan CIU, the candidate has to pay the Due Diligence fee in full plus 10% of the application processing fee plus the immigration agent’s fee (US$ 27,000 in total plus the agent’s fee). The rest is payable when the application for citizenship is approved by the Antiguan authorities.
The regulations for filing a family application for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda
The following members if the family can be included in the application for the Antiguan citizenship in addition to the main applicant:
- Main applicant’s spouse;
- Child of main applicant / main applicant’s spouse aged between 0 and 30 and financially dependent on the main applicant;
- Child of main applicant / main applicant’s spouse above 18 having physical/ mental disabilities living with main applicant and financially dependent on him/ her;
- Parents and grandparents of main applicant / main applicant’s spouse aged above 55 and financially dependent on the main applicant;
- Brother or sister of main applicant / main applicant’s spouse if they are not married;
- Future spouse of main applicant (the marriage can be registered after obtaining citizenship but an additional fee will be due);
- Future spouse of a child of main applicant / main applicant’s spouse (the marriage to be registered after obtaining citizenship) if the child if financially dependent on the main applicant;
- Future child of a dependent child of the main applicant / main applicant’s spouse (the amount of the additional fee will depend on the age of the child).
For the purposes of Antiguan citizenship-by-investment program, the term ‘child’ stands for a biological or adopted child of the main applicant / main applicant’s spouse.
The following restrictions apply to family applications for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment:
- Children above the age of 30 cannot be added to family applications for citizenship.
- Grandchildren can be added to family applications for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda but not great-grandchildren (if the main applicant’s parents are included in the family application, grandchildren of the main applicant will not be eligible for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment).
Due Diligence fees involved in acquiring citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment
The due diligence fee is applicable to adult family members only. Children below 12 are exempt from the payment.
- Main applicant and spouse – US$ 7,500 each;
- Children (12-17) — US$ 2,000 per child;
- Children (18-25) — US$ 4,000 per child;
- Parents, brothers, sisters — US$ 4,000 per person;
Adding family members after citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda has been obtained
It is possible to acquire Antiguan passports for additional family members after you acquire economic citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda yourself. Additional fees are due, however, if you decide to go for it:
| Amount payable* | |
| Spouse | US$ 50,000 |
| Dependent child of 0-5 years of age | US$ 10,000 |
| Dependent child of 6-17 years of age | US$ 20,000 |
| Dependent family member 18+ years of age | US$ 50,000 |
| Child of dependent child of up to 6 years of age | US$ 10,000 |
| Child of dependent child from 6 to 17 years of age | US$ 20,000 |
* In addition, standard due diligence and passport issuance fees are due.
Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment in real estate or business
A foreign family or a single applicant can also acquire citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by purchasing real property in the country. It is important to realize that investments can be made only in Government-approved development projects if you want to qualify for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. The list of such development projects is available at the CIU official website.
The size of the immigration agent’s fee will depend on the complexity of purchasing property from the preferred developer.
The amounts of required investments in real property in Antigua and Barbuda are specified in the table below:
| Single applicant | Family of up to 4 members | Family of 5+ members | |
| Application processing fee | US$ 30 000 | US$ 30,000 | US$ 30,000 $ + US$ 15,000 $ for any extra family member (beginning with the fifth member) |
| Option 1 (one investor) | US$ 400,000 | US$ 400,000 | US$ 400,000 |
| Option 2 (collective investments)* | US$ 200,000 | US$ 200,000 | US$ 200,000 |
| Due diligence fee | US$ 7,500 | US$ 7,500 + US$ 7,500 for spouse, US$ 2,000 for dependent family member between 12 and 17, US$ 4,000 for dependent family member of 18 and above | US$ 7,500 + US$ 7,500 for spouse, US$ 2,000 for dependent family member between 12 and 17, US$ 4,000 for dependent family member of 18 and above |
* Two or more foreign individuals (families) can make a joint investment into a piece of Antiguan property. They will qualify for citizenship of the country on the condition that each investor brings at least US$ 400,000.
It is also possible to acquire citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment by putting money into a business venture in the country. If a joint investment is made, each investor shall bring at least US$ 400,000 while the total investment amount shall come to at least US$ 5,000,000. If an individual investment into business is made, the required amount is US$ 1,500,000. All other payments are equal to those specified in the table above.
Why you should invest in the Antiguan passport
Antigua and Barbuda is an independent state in the Caribbean, a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the UN, the Caribbean community CARICOM, Organization of American states, and many other international organizations.
The islands are covered with lush tropical forests. You can go to a different beach every day of the year, as there are 365 beaches in Antigua and Barbuda. The light splashing of the turquoise water makes you feel as if you were taking an everlasting vacation. No wonder tourism generates the lion’s share (60%) of the country’s national income.
Antigua is one of the countries that administer citizenship-by-investment programs. Launched in 2013, the Antiguan program is aimed at promoting the economic development of the country by attracting foreign direct investments.
The foreign national who makes a donation or an investment in the required amount becomes eligible for lifetime citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. No personal visit is required to obtain the Antiguan passport (it can be sent to you with a courier).
Besides, no personal interview is involved in the process of acquiring the Antiguan citizenship. You do not have to take any tests nor submit any university diplomas to become a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. The application processing speed is rather high in the country: it takes between three and six months to obtain the passport.
One of the key characteristics of the country is it does not levy the wealth tax nor the inheritance tax on foreign investors. Fiscal residents of Antigua and Barbuda are exempted from the personal income tax as well. You can also freely move around the CARICOM states with the Antiguan passport.
It is fine with the Antiguan authorities if the foreign investor holds two or more national passports. The holder of the Antiguan passport also gains access to an advanced banking sector on the islands. Antigua has the best-equipped medical clinic in the region and the local doctors are trained in the leading medical schools of the world.
Antigua is one of the most important regional transportation hubs. There are direct flights to London, New York, Miami, Toronto, and Montreal from the local airport. Finally, the Antiguan passport holder is free to enter around one hundred and fifty countries without a visa (or obtaining an electronic visa/ visa on arrival).
Professional assistance in acquiring citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment
Many wealthy individuals from various parts of the world appreciate the opportunity to obtain a second passport. InternationalWealth team assists clients in going through the procedure of acquiring foreign citizenship.
Please apply for a personalized confidential consultation on purchasing the Antiguan passport. You are welcome to contact us by email, our live chat, or a messenger. We always reply promptly!
How popular is the Antiguan passport among foreign investors?
The Antiguan citizenship-by-investment program is one of the most popular such programs in the Caribbean basin. The country trails only St Kitts in terms of the number of visa-free destinations that its passport holder has access to.
What is the Antiguan passport term of validity?
The passport is initially issued for five years and then it can be extended every ten years. To qualify for the first extension, the passport holder has to spend at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda during the first five-year period.
Do I have to cover the cost of the Antiguan passport in several installments?
Yes, you cover the cost of the passport in two instalments. First, you have to pay 10% of the application processing fee and 100% of the due diligence fee. If you pass the security checks, your application for Antiguan citizenship will be approved and then you will have to pay the remaining administrative fees and make the donation/ investment in the required amount. After that, you will get the passport. The application processing takes three to six months.
